Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District to meet Thursday; Samoa pulp mill, division boundaries up for discussion

The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District will meet Thursday morning to welcome three returning directors, hear a presentation by the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District concerning the Samoa pulp mill, and consider new division boundaries.

According to General Manager Carol Rische, Barbara Hecathorn, Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, and Sheri Woo are the three returning board members who will be sworn in for four-year terms. All three women ran unopposed and were then re-appointed to the positions, Rische said. Once seated, Rische said the board will also elect a new president, and conduct officer and commissioner appointments.

Rische also said the water district was contacted by the harbor district about a "potential opportunity" to acquire property from Freshwater Tissue Co., owners of the Samoa pulp mill which has been closed since October 2008. According to CEO Jack Crider, the harbor district is currently negotiating with the owners of Freshwater Tissue Co. to sell "at least part of the site."

"The owner has made an opportunity for the harbor district to acquire the site," he said. "I would like to see us move forward with that. Right now, we are soliciting support and looking at the partners we will need to do that."

Crider said the harbor district has several businesses, mainly acquaculture businesses, ready to be put in place as soon as the property has been acquired.

"Obviously, those businesses will need water and with the huge industrial water line running to the site, that's where the water district comes in," he said.

Rische said that the water district would likely be interested in any forward action involving the shuttered mill.

"Since we lost the mill, we haven't had a large industrial customer able to come in and make up for that lost revenue," she said. "At the end of the day, we would be interested in getting another industrial or commercial customer at the mill."

Also on tap, Rische said the water district will consider adjusting the district's five boundaries. With population increases in some areas since the last census, the adjustments are important to keep the divisions balanced, she said.

"Our staff will present on where the population is now and how we can further equalize that so everyone is fairly represented," she said.

The 9 a.m. meeting takes place at the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District office, 828 Seventh St. in Eureka. Agendas are available at www.hbmwd.com/meeting_schedule.